The nurse is assisting with the application of a long arm plaster cast. Which action should the nurse take for this patient?
a. Apply an ice pack along the top of the cast.
b. Handle the wet cast with the fingertips.
c. Maintain the extremity below the heart level.
d. Fold the stockinette over the outer edge of the cast.
D
The nurse folds the stockinette over the outer edge of the cast, secured with an additional layer of casting material, to protect the regional tissue from irritation. Ice bags are placed on both sides of the cast to ensure effective cooling. The nurse handles a wet cast with the palms of the hands. After completing the cast, the nurse positions the extremity above the heart to promote venous drainage from the affected tissue.
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A pregnant woman is being discharged from the hospital after an episode of preterm labor that has resolved. She asks the nurse if she can now return to her low-impact aerobics class. Which response by the nurse is best?
A. "As long as it's low impact, it should be OK to return." B. "Make sure you can talk while you are exercising." C. "Preterm labor is a contraindication for aerobic exercise." D. "Wait 72 hours; if you don't have more contractions, it's OK."
Important nursing measures needed when feeding a hemiplegic patient include: (Select all that apply.)
a. Mixing liquids and solid foods together b. Taking the patient's dentures out to prevent choking c. Checking the affected side of mouth for food accumulation d. Offering small bites of food e. Elevating the patient to no more than 30 degrees f. Adding a thickening agent to liquids
While assessing the client at risk for shock, a nurse finds the client's systolic blood pressure to be 20 mm Hg lower than baseline. What is the nurse's best first action?
A. Increase the IV rate. B. Administer oxygen. C. Notify the physician. D. Document the finding as the only action.
A client is receiving fentanyl IV for postoperative pain. The nurse understands that with this opiod the client should be monitored for:
a. respiratory depression. c. alertness. b. CNS stimulation. d. cough suppression.